The FBI, on Friday, finally confirmed that former US President Donald Trump was 'grazed' by a bullet, rather than by glass debris or shrapnel, during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
The bullet, whether whole or fragmented, struck Trump’s ear, as revealed by the bureau.
Trump harshly criticised FBI Director Christopher Wray for his earlier uncertainty. Wray had told Congress that there was "some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear."
Responding angrily, Trump posted, "FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!"
The FBI's definitive statement clarified, "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle."
Wray's testimony was part of the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the July 13 assassination attempt during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old, was killed by law enforcement after opening fire from an elevated position.
The attack resulted in the death of one spectator and critically injured two others.
Despite the severity of the incident, Trump has not released medical records from his hospital treatment.
However, his campaign shared a letter dated July 20 from Rep. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician. Jackson confirmed that he had been evaluating and treating Trump’s wound daily since the shooting and verified that Trump had “sustained a gunshot wound to the right ear.”
Trump acknowledged the FBI’s new statement on Truth Social, expressing a sense of closure. “I assume that’s the best apology that we’ll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!,” he wrote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticised Wray’s earlier testimony, stating, “We’ve all seen the video, we’ve seen the analysis, we’ve heard it from multiple sources in different angles that a bullet went through his ear. I’m not sure it matters that much.”
Before the FBI's confirmation, Senator Lindsey Graham had written to Wray, urging him to amend his testimony.
Graham argued, that “the attempted assassin’s bullet ripped the upper part” of Trump’s ear and stated that this should not be in dispute.
Following the FBI’s definitive statement, Graham expressed his relief on X (formerly Twitter): “Glad the FBI confirmed what everyone else knew. It was a bullet that struck President Trump. The statement by the FBI Director should’ve never been made.”
The FBI’s confirmation closes a contentious chapter in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, providing a clear account of the incident and the injuries sustained by Trump.
Follow us
